BONDURBU VILLAGE W.M.G
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The WMG Bondurbu is now an independent group managed locally by women with WAYout as a parent organisation. WAYout works with women in slum and remote areas, often with no education, prospects or computer experience, offering free training and facilities in digital media to enable them to have a voice, be empowered, gain skills and educate others through filmmaking, graphics and the arts. We hope to create many such groups that will become self sustaining and independently run
Water, Food, Education
We provide water, invest in agriculture, encourage independence with the space to learn and make films that inform, inspire and promote digital inclusion
60 women and girls have already trained in media production. Most of the women have no literacy skills or access to phone signals and yet they have made dramas about sexual health, fistula, early marriage and the impact of Corona Virus on women's lives. These are screened to full local audiences and online.
FERRY JUNCTION FREETOWN
A group of women in the slums of Ferry Junction, Freetown, decided to learn filmmaking to raise awareness of the struggle faced by uneducated women with lived experience of early marriage and teenage pregnancy
LEARNING CAMERA
Empowering women
Learning to work as a team and develop transferable skills and becoming members of the digital world
CREATING THE STORY
Listening to others
Learning to identify the key points and structure a story which also means developing writing skills
WORKING AS A TEAM
Transforming Lives
Working together and learning from eachother gives voice and confidence
WHO WE ARE
The Women's Media Group began when a group of 30 women and girls from the provinces of Sierra Leone, who were victims of domestic abuse, took back control of their own lives. They trained in media production and now make films about rape, gender issues, sexual health, FGM and women's rights. The group believes that women should have autonomy, health, dignity and safety and that local audiences relate more to films with a local voice. The films were so successful, playing to packed audiences. Women's Media Groups have been set up in other places by WAYout to continue the work, give hands-on experience of technology, create jobs and make films for a national and international audience.
Hawa Jalloh, leader of the WMG Bondurbu, was born and raised in Bundorbu village, From a young age she dreamed of getting an education and serving her community. Sadly, circumstances forced her to leave school early.
At 15 she was married off — a child bride in a society where women’s voices were often silenced. Her marriage lasted 17 years, but it was marked by sexual abuse and violence. Eventually, she gathered the courage to break free and become the first woman in the area to take her husband to court for abuse, a bold and unprecedented move.
Left with full responsibility for her children, she turned to farming and through sheer determination, she was able to provide for her children.
Her experience of violence and injustice fueled her passion to stand up for others. She is known for her bravery and outspokenness, advocating against violence and discrimination, determined to make sure that others do not suffer as she did.
Today, her ambition is clear and unwavering: to see sexual-based violence eradicated, and human rights upheld in her community
Alexa Young, Product Manager
SCREENINGS
Working Towards women's rights and digital equality
The Women's Media Groups make films that bring change. Made with a local voice, the dramas entertain and raise awareness without people realising they are learning. Screened to local villages and to packed audiences our films have huge impact.
